While Russian-Syrian relations seem to be closer than ever, the war in Ukraine can change the strategic balance in and around Syria for good.
Geopolitics
For a long time, the Mediterranean was a battleground exclusively for European and other Western powers. These days it is becoming crowded.
The announcement of a strategic partnership agreement with Iran highlights China’s ultimate will to take a more assertive geopolitical role, even if this poses a direct challenge to US policies.
Iran and China seek to deepen their ties. A move that flaunts the two countries’ willingness to back each other against the US pressure. Looking closer, a long-term overarching relation might be much harder to establish.
Branded as a compromise candidate, Iraq’s new Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi has made a bold entrance, issuing a number of unorthodox policy proposals. But will his nomination trigger a sustained momentum before the euphory fades away?